May 1, 2008  Volume 14  Number 26







USA church aims to expand to Canada

An American church expansion into Muskoka is raising more than a few hallelujahs.

Jeremy McClung – with the support of the Brethren Church headquartered in Ashland, Ohio – is heading up an expansion to Huntsville, called the Muskoka Community Church.
The Brethren Church began in 1708 in Schwarznau, Germany under the leadership of Alexander Mack. It combines the historic influences of the Anabaptists and the Pietists.
One example of the Brethren Church teachings can be found on line: Be careful when using church discipline. The case alleges that Fort Worth minister C. L. “Buddy” Westbrook, a licensed professional counsellor and pastor of Crossland Community Bible Church, broke confidence when he wrote a letter to his congregation directing church members to avoid contact with a woman until “the time of repentance and restoration.” “The action was necessary,” he wrote, “because she was engaging in a biblically inappropriate relationship and seeking a divorce.”
McClung answered the following questions in an email interview this week.
What is your background?
I grew up in Fort Erie, and spent several years in the U.S. after graduating from university down there and marrying my wife, April, who is from Indiana. I have been in ministry in one form or another since then—sometimes full-time, other times part-time (what is termed “bi-vocational” in ministry circles). We moved to Huntsville from Winchester, Virginia in July 2007 to begin work on this church. We’re not here to “compete” with the other churches in Huntsville, but to find our own niche and work alongside them in the community.
Do you have formal ministerial training?
Yes, my B.A., a double-major in Bible and Religion/Educational Ministry from Huntington, Indiana - a small Christian liberal arts university.
Are you ordained? If so by whom?
I am licensed as a pastor by the Brethren Church (based in Ashland, OH). I am in the process of ordination.
What is the source of your income to support your family?
My previous church (the one I mentioned above, Grace Community Church in Winchester, Virginia, www.gracecommunity.com), is supporting me along with a few other churches and denominational agencies. I felt a “calling” to come here to start this church, at which point I developed a detailed plan and budget for the new church, and proceeded to raise the support needed.
Have you ever started a church previously?
I led a church-planting effort in my early twenties that failed in the first year (for a number of reasons including lack of support - I was working a full-time “secular” job at the time). After that I was part of a church-plant that has grown from its early days in an elementary school gym to attendance of over 500 people (though I joined when it was at around 100 people, and I was not the lead pastor). I started as a volunteer and eventually became a full-time associate pastor.”
They provided the time and resources needed to work on training, planning and research when the idea of Muskoka Community Church was just being conceived, and since then they have been closely following the development of this church and cheering us on as their first church plant.”
In all – three churches and the Brethren are listed as backing this new adventure.
McClung said in emails last week to MuskokaTODAY: “The church is not about money, and yet it needs money in order to operate effectively.
“If you’re becoming a part of MCC, whenever you feel ready to do so you’re welcome to become a financial contributor. All giving will be held as strictly confidential by those involved in bookkeeping, and receipts will be issued for income tax purposes. Until we receive our own status as a charitable organization, another church is assisting us in this area.
“Cheques can be written to ‘GB Canada’ with ‘Huntsville’ in the memo line, and can be mailed to: GB Canada, Mississauga, ON.”
On Monday MuskokaTODAY: accessed a blog containing the following information: “GB Canada Forms New U.S. Charity – The Grace Brethren church-planting initiative in Canada has announced the formation of a new U.S. charity, GBCanada USA.
“While we are excited about the formation of GBCanada USA, the ministry here has been hurt in three different ways. Due to the confusion over the rapid dissolution of GBNAM, our current support is about 50% of what was previously budgeted. Second, the U.S. dollar is at a 25-year low against the Canadian dollar so we must now raise additional monies to make up for that loss in funds.
“And because of the loss of our sponsoring agency, we now must bear the additional expense of administrating two organizations on both sides of the border. We pray not only that our faithful supporters will respond to the establishment of GBCanada USA but that new supporters will join our team as a result.”
Nathan Bryant said, “Look for more exciting news how you can participate in what God is doing in Canada, our neighbour to the North.”
This is just the beginning, McClung points out.
“Starting a new church is an adventure requiring a lot of committed people. It isn’t something one person can do alone.”
Missing from the Brethren Church Web site is a listing of their church sites throughout the world.
There will be an information meeting on Sun., May 4 at 3 p.m. upstairs at Robinson’s Independent Grocer in Huntsville.

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Last updated May 02, 2008